First-wave feminism

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First-wave feminism was a time of feminist activity and thought in the Western world. It happened during the 19th and early 20th century. It focused on laws about women, mainly giving women the right to vote. Later waves of feminism would focus on things like economic equality and social equality.

Journalist Martha Lear was the first to call it first-wave feminism. She did this in an article she wrote for New York Times Magazine in March 1968. It was called "The Second Feminist Wave: What do these women want?"^[1][2][3] First-wave feminism focused on women's power under law. Second-wave feminism was about economic and social power, for example, equal pay for equal work.

In her book The Second Sex, Simone de Beauvoir wrote that the first woman to "take up her pen in defense of her sex" was Christine de Pizan. Christine de Pizan wrote in the 15th century.^[4] Feminists Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Modesta di Pozzo di Forzi worked in the 16th century.^[4] Marie le Jars de Gournay, Anne Bradstreet and François Poullain de la Barre's Equality of sexes came out in 1673.^[4]

1. ↑ Lear, Martha Weinman (March 10, 1968). "The Second Feminist Wave: What do these women want?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
2. ↑ Henry, Astrid (2004). Not My Mother's Sister: Generational Conflict and Third-Wave Feminism. Indiana University Press. p. 58. ISBN 9780253111227. Archived from the original on 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
3. ↑ "First Wave Feminism". BCC Feminist Philosophy. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Schneir, Miram (1994). Feminism: The Essential Historical Writings. Vintage Books. p. xiv. ISBN 978-0-679-75381-0.